title: Applications of software-defined radio (SDR) technology in hospital environments.
abstract: A software-defined radio (SDR) is a radio communication system where the major part of its functionality is implemented by means of software in a personal computer or embedded system. Such a design paradigm has the major advantage of producing devices that can receive and transmit widely different radio protocols based solely on the software used. This flexibility opens several application opportunities in hospital environments, where a large number of wired and wireless electronic devices must coexist in confined areas like operating rooms and intensive care units. This paper outlines some possible applications in the 2360-2500 MHz frequency band. These applications include the integration of wireless medical devices in a common communication platform for seamless interoperability, and cognitive radio (CR) for body area networks (BANs) and wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for medical environmental surveillance. The description of a proof-of-concept CR prototype is also presented.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chávez-Santiago
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mateska
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chomu
authors.forename: Liljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gavrilovska
authors.forename: Ilangko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balasingham
mesh_terms: D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D004867:Equipment Design; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D011846:Radio Waves; D012984:Software; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*